Tide Tidbits – March 10, 2010
Top 10 SEC Games of 2010
Well it may only be March, but before I get March Madness I will get to this story, the top SEC Games of 2010. The SEC has numerous rivalry games and just great games. Even the best SEC team might fall to another SEC team who is struggling at the time. The team who wins the SEC might not be the best in the conference. So many games will prove to be great, and as long as the refs don’t mess with the game, the team that wins will be the better team that day. Whether it’s the Cocktail Party or just Florida and Alabama mixing it up, the SEC should prove to have some great games. Continue Reading >>
Tide Tidbits – March 9, 2010
Alabama Crimson Tide honored at White House ceremony
In a city best known lately for bickering and partisan strife, everybody assembled Monday afternoon in the White House’s East Room could happily unite on one point: That the University of Alabama’s national championship team represented a pinnacle of college football achievement. “I think it’s safe to say the Tide is back,” President Barack Obama proclaimed after entering the ornate reception room, where the squad had gathered a few minutes before. At Obama’s side was Coach Nick Saban, lauded by the president as a major force behind the Crimson Tide’s revival. Among the players, Obama singled out running back Mark Ingram as the first Heisman Trophy winner in the university’s history and Rolando McClain for winning the Butkus award as the nation’s best linebacker. “One of the trademarks of this team has always been its unwavering focus on what’s important,” Obama said. The president accepted a football, helmet and personalized jersey before taking a few minutes to mingle and shake hands. Continue Reading >>
Tide Tidbits – March 8, 2010
Recruiting: Ha’sean Clinton-Dix, Isiah Myers, Tom Smith come away from 3-city weekend tour with infatuation for Alabama
Following Alabama’s first national title since 1992, the Crimson Tide has tried to harness its on-field momentum into recruiting for the class of 2011. One area that Alabama’s head coach Nick Saban has targeted is Central Florida. While Alabama hasn’t landed any recruits from Orlando yet, the defending national champions are certainly making headway. This past weekend, Dr. Phillips DB Ha’sean Clinton-Dix, Olympia WR Isiah Myers, and Apopka RB Tom Smith took a trip to three college campuses; Alabama, Florida and Georgia Tech. However, it seems that these prospects returned from their trip with a particular infatuation with the Crimson Tide. “The campus I liked most was Alabama,” said Smith, who was sporting an Alabama baseball cap. When asked if Alabama was his favorite school at this point, Smith responded by saying, “yeah, most likely.” Continue Reading >>
Tide Tidbits – March 7, 2010
Alabama wins latest battle
Saban just earned an assist. When the Alabama football team showed up at halftime Saturday to accept the Foy-ODK Sportsmanship Trophy for winning the last Iron Bowl, it lifted the Alabama crowd. The Alabama crowd, in turn, lifted the Alabama basketball team. To come full circle, a one-point Alabama halftime lead became Grant’s first win over Auburn 73-61. But he didn’t seem all that excited about ending Auburn’s four-game winning streak in the series. ‘‘To be honest with you,” he said, ‘‘I was unaware of any streak.” And you thought Saban had insulted the Tigers during his otherwise gracious halftime speech when he expressed ‘‘a tremendous amount of respect for the University of Auburn.” It’s Auburn University. But what’s in a name? Continue Reading >>
Tide Tidbits – March 6, 2010
Countdown to Spring Practice: Tide loaded with RBs
Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram returns for his junior season, coming off the most prolific rushing season in Crimson Tide history. Ingram ran for 1,658 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging better than six yards per carry. His counterpart, Trent Richardson, is back for his sophomore year. As a tandem, Ingram and Richardson chewed up 2,409 yards and scored 25 touchdowns. If healthy, there shouldn’t be a better backfield tandem in the nation in 2010. Alabama has speed, strength and depth in the offensive backfield. Ingram and Richardson can relieve each other to keep themselves fresh while giving the Tide a dominant back at all times. Ingram’s game as a receiver and pass blocker took a step forward in 2009, often overlooked in light of a Heisman Trophy-winning season. The last two seasons have proven there is playing time available for a third back, so there is still a role for which the rest of the cast can compete. Continue Reading >>
Tide Tidbits – March 5, 2010
2010 Look Ahead: SEC West
It’s no secret in college football today: make it through the SEC season with a single loss (maybe two), and you’re going to a BCS bowl. Make it through the SEC season with a single loss (or better) and win the SEC Championship and you’ll be playing for the BCS crown. Win in the SEC and you’re going to a BCS Bowl; it’s not just a trend or coincidence, it’s because you’ve beaten the “best.” I, being the stat guy and sports historian, took a deeper look at this, however, and found another interesting trend rears its head when we look at the coaches of these BCS invitees from the SEC; particularly those in their “sophomore” coaching season. Alabama2009 Record: 14-0 Returning Starters: 8 Offense / 3 O-Line, 2 Defense 2009 Wrap Up It only took Nick Saban three years to put all the pieces of the puzzle in place at Alabama as the Tide rolled to a 14-0 season winning the National Championship with 37-21 victory over #2 Texas. Continue Reading >>
Tide Tidbits – March 4, 2010
Milliner glad to fill hole in Alabama’s secondary
What’s prom compared to the opportunity to start for the defending national champions? That’s how Millbrook cornerback DeMarcus Milliner saw it. The state’s top 2009 prospect enrolled a semester early at Alabama because the Crimson Tide lost six contributing cornerbacks from last season’s title team, including both starters. “Once I heard six or seven DBs were supposed to graduate or leave, I knew I should come in then, because it’s a great chance for me to play,” Milliner said. “I can come in and just do what I do. … Hopefully, I’m at the very top (of the depth chart). But if I’m not, I’m just going to work until I get there.” Along with 10 other new signees, Milliner is already in classes at Alabama and will participate when spring practice begins March 12. Milliner and another new arrival, quarterback Phillip Sims, were allowed the rarity of giving interviews to reporters on National Signing Day. It marked the first time coach Nick Saban allowed true freshmen into the media room at the Alabama football complex. Saban also stressed the early enrollees as a key to the 2010 signing class. Continue Reading >>
Tide Tidbits – March 3, 2010
Tide meets the president on Monday
Alabama’s national championship football team will tour the sights in Washington, D.C., on Monday, including a stop by the White House to meet with President Barack Obama. The White House and University of Alabama on Tuesday confirmed details of the trip, which has been expected since the Crimson Tide beat Texas in the Jan. 7 BCS national championship game. The Crimson Tide will depart Tuscaloosa on Monday morning. Coaches and players will return in time for next Wednesday’s on-campus pro day workouts for NFL draft-eligible players and the start of spring practice, which is scheduled two days later. It is customary for national championship teams to receive an invitation to the White House. Florida’s team visited after winning the 2008 national championship and presented Obama with a Gators custom jersey and football. Obama placed a congratulatory phone call to Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban the morning after the BCS title game in Pasadena, Calif. Continue Reading >>
Tide Tidbits – March 2, 2010
Eli Gold speaks
Alabama football and NASCAR radio broadcaster Eli Gold was in Jackson on Monday night speaking at Miss Ollie’s to members of the West Tennessee chapter of the University of Alabama Alumni and Friends. Having been a part of the Crimson Tide Sports Network since 1988, Gold had plenty of stories to tell about former football coach Gene Stallings, current coach Nick Saban, former color commentator and Alabama quarterback Ken Stabler. He talked about his relationship with Saban, and he said much of what the media reports about him is not a proper portrayal. “He’s different. I’ll give you that much, but different doesn’t necessarily mean wrong,” Gold said. “And who can argue with the results he’s brought to the program?” Continue Reading >>
Tide Tidbits – March 1, 2010
Recruiting: Plenty of options at running back
The University of Alabama is quickly becoming known as Running Back U. The national championship garnered the attention of recruits from across the country, but the Heisman Trophy winner in Tuscaloosa became a huge drawing card as well. Six of the nation’s top 10 ball carriers have Alabama as one of their early favorites which includes Malcolm Brown, No. 2 running back in the country by Scout.com from Steele High School in Cibolo, Texas; Isaiah Crowell (No. 4) from Carver High School in Columbus, Ga.; Rodney Coe (No. 6) from Edwardsville High School in Ill.; Savon Huggins (No. 7), from St. Peters Prep in Jersey City, N.J.; Aaron Green (No. 8), from Madison High School in San Antonio, Texas and Mike Bellamy (No. 9) from Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda, Fla. Crowell named Alabama his favorite last week. “I like Alabama because I’m real comfortable with the coaches there and like the players too,” Crowell informed Scout.com. “I’ve got a good relationship with them. I love how they run the ball. They really showcase the back. I also like coach Nick Saban and his whole staff.” Continue Reading >>
Tide Tidbits – February 28, 2010
Alabama’s Rolando McClain is at head of linebacker class at NFL Combine
Ole Miss running back/wide receiver Dexter McCluster has noticed Rolando McClain a few times the past couple of years. How could you not notice him?” McCluster said Saturday with a smirk. In three years at Alabama, McClain received plenty of attention, from the time he became a starter as a freshman through last season, when he joined the late Derrick Thomas as the only Alabama linebacker to win the Butkus Award. And now, as he makes his way toward the NFL Draft, McClain is still being recognized — as many scouts’ top-rated linebacker. “I think everybody’s pretty much interested,” McClain told reporters Saturday at the Scouting Combine. “The question is if I’m going to be available.” Continue Reading >>
Tide Tidbits – February 27, 2010
Former Alabama players go under the microscope
For the Alabama players who either graduated or left school early for a shot in the NFL, they have moved onto the next step and maybe the most grueling step before the draft, the NFL Scouting Combine. The average fan associates the combine with how fast a player runs the 40-yard dash or how many repetitions he can bench press or how high he can jump, but a lot more goes into the process than just the physical tests. Players go through a battery of tests which focuses on everything from their health to their intelligence level to their personality, and every test they go through can either help or hurt them depending on how they perform. “I woke up at 5 this morning and had to go through the drug testing, your height, your weight, you go through the meat market, the pageant competition of the combine,” Alabama tight end Colin Peek said. “Ever since then, it’s been non-stop physicians checking you, orthopedists checking you, every single thing you can think of, making sure you’re body’s right.” Continue Reading >>
